Meet Corrina Ferguson, new editor of Creative Knitting Corrina knits and designs in Florida where there are only about three sweater days per year, but she keeps on knitting and dreams of retiring somewhere where it snows. Corrina is a knitting designer, instructor and technical editor, and author of Warm Days, Cool Knits.

If you need to join new yarn, it should be added only at the beginning of a row, never in the middle, unless this is required for a color pattern change.

To add yarn, tie the new strand around the old strand, making a knot at the edge of the work, leaving at least 6 inches on both old and new strands. Then proceed to knit with the new yarn. When you get ready to finish your piece, untie the knot and weave in the ends.

I’m not sure why you say new yarn should be joined only at the edge. There are several methods for joining in new balls of yarn (same color) anywhere in a row. Is end of row a recommendation for new knitters?

I personally NEVER join at an edge because it interferes with seaming. Instead, I use the double stitch method, working two stitches with both old and new yarn. It creates little bulk and makes weaving in the ends later much easier, especially with wool. I use this method in circular knitting as well.